Mind the gap: manager self-perception and employee expectations of selected leadership dimensions

This study examines the discrepancies between managers' self-perception and their employees' expectations regarding key managerial competencies. The primary aim of the research is to identify whether a perception gap exists and, if so, to quantify and interpret the extent of this gap both statistically and practically. Based on a two-stage analysis involving descriptive statistics, t-tests, and effect size estimation (Cohen's d), the study highlights specific competencies and clusters where the divergence is most pronounced. Findings reveal managers' consistent underestimation of critical competencies, particularly in psychological resilience, decision-making under pressure, and crisis management. Conversely, interpersonal communication and career experience showed a relatively high alignment between managers and employees. The results provide valuable insights for targeted leadership development, emphasising the need to strengthen competencies that are critical for effective management in a dynamic organisational environment. The study also lays the groundwork for a subsequent analysis aimed at constructing a profile of the ideal manager based on employee preferences for demographic, cultural, and behavioural attributes.